THE BIGGEST shock at Anfield on an unsatisfying night of Champions' League football came an hour after the final whistle. The Galatasaray squad strolled passed reporters and not one of them fell over.

The Turks had spent the night tripping over themselves to hit the deck. The Anfield groundsman will have no problem getting a job in Istanbul. The Galatasaray players enjoyed a passionate love affair with the turf which was positively x-rated.

Given their much justified reputation, it surprised no-one the first and last image of this game was of a Turk faking injury. It's amazing they haven't been relegated more often since no side has ever gone down as much as this.

Sadly, this result means it could be Liverpool's Champions' League ambitions which are now left dragging the floor.

A home draw leaves the Reds needing a victory in what the Turks shamefully and proudly dub 'Hell' next week. Not beyond the realms of possibility. But with Steven Gerrard now a major doubt for that trip, it may not just be European hopes which were dealt a major blow last night.

Liverpool should have won this game. They created enough chances and were denied by a combination of brilliant goalkeeping, woeful finishing and a touch of bad luck.

But to say this performance had anything in common with the previous two impressive wins would be unwise. It wasn't anywhere near as good, although they still deserved more than they got.

There were too many things which didn't happen last night which had been so encouraging at Leeds and Ipswich.

A few bad habits returned. The passing lacked composure and a sense of over-urgency and panic returned. Whereas in their last game a red shirt seemed to have 10 options every time a player had the ball, here the hopeful belt to the target man made an unwelcome return far too often.

With Gerrard seemingly playing a more withdrawn role than in recent weeks, and thus having less influence on affairs, conjuring up clear chances against a well organised defence proved difficult.

Galatasaray came to Merseyside to adopt sinister means to get a draw and they achieved it.

They also defended very well, although giving a team of charlatans any credit must be done whilst biting your lip until it bleeds.

The tone was set within 60 seconds. Umit Karan showed more movement in the air than an Olympic Ski-jumper. Indeed, Eddie the Eagle himself would have been proud of the heights the Turk reached as he rode Jamie Carragher's challenge.

It was as if the Turks were playing on a banana-infested ice rink, except greasier. Never mind a yellow card, referee Vitor Manuel Melo Pereira should have had boards with the number 10 written on to hold aloft every five minutes.

The spoiling tactics had some impact on what was a dire opening. It was a scrappy start enlivened only by a series of well struck shots from long distance.

Dietmar Hamann, excellent yet again and now the undisputed Liverpool player of the year, must have had a few bob on himself to grab the first goal.

He peppered Ali Mondragon's net with accurate and powerful efforts, only to be denied by a combination of fine reflexes and unorthodox saves.

John Arne Riise was also frustrated when a bullet was pushed for a corner by the Colombian. It was encouraging, but the argument that the Reds were relying too much on something spectacular to break the deadlock was compelling.

As the Turks continued to fall like unbalanced skittles, an irate Kop used their anger to get behind the side and they started to gather some momentum in the minutes before half time.

Hamann's free-kick was missed by Sami Hyypia's head but pushed onto the post by the enigmatic but brilliant Colombian. Heskey also had a close range shot cleared off the line.

Then twice in a minute the German watched well struck shots pushed wide for a corner.

But no sooner were the Reds getting a degree of control, another Turk hit the deck and the stop-start game came to another abrupt halt. Never mind a stretcher, these guys should have been given a pillow.

FIFA go on about rewarding fair play, but surely the time has come to put an and to these pathetic, cowardly tactics?

Make an example of the Turks who take more time trying to con the referee than scoring goals. Worse thing is, no doubt, we're in for more of the same in Istanbul next week as diving must be compulsory for anyone who signs for the Turkish giants.

Liverpool had no luck but also had to blame themselves for not being clinical enough when chances came more frequently in the second half.

Set-pieces were the biggest danger all night. Heskey's header from six yards rattled the bar. Then Danny Murphy rode several challenges but sliced his shot wide with the goal at his mercy.

It was the best chance of the night and once it had gone begging a 0-0 draw looked inevitable. Michael Owen, fed scraps again, almost conjured up a winner in the closing stages but snatched at two half chances.

Liverpool had avoided defeat, but this was a match they should and could have won. Galatasaray didn't look as good as Barcelona, and with the other two sides in the group drawing it's far from over.

Given Liverpool's greater composure and less anxious style away from Anfield, the fact two of their last three games in this group are away might not be a bad thing. On the positive side, Liverpool are only one victory away from transforming their situation.

So Hell beckons in a week's time. It's an appropriate venue because Liverpool will need to devilishly good to get out of this group now.